Orthodontic device



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H. J. RUSSELL ORTHODONTIC DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1955 INVEN TOR. #4775?(277061952 1.

BY Mm United States Patent ORTHODONTIC DEVICE Harry John Russell,Newark, N. J., assignor to Baker & (30., Inc., Newark, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application January 21, 195. Serial No.483,219

4 Claims. (Cl. 32-141) The present invention deals with an orthodonticdevice and more particularly with an orthodontic lock engageable with anarch bow.

Orthodontic arch bow locks of various constructions are used for thecorrection of irregular teeth. Some arch bow lock constructions comprisea basic lock component into which the arch bow is positioned andsubsequently secured therein by means of a ligature wire for tying thearch bow to the basic lock component. While this type of arch bow lockis easily assembled, it has the disadvantage that the ligature wire whentightened exerts substantial pressure against the arch bow therebyfrictionally preventing the arch bow from sliding freely within thelock. When the ligature wire is tightened to excess, the arch bowbecomes substantially immovable within the lock.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arch bowlock. It is another object of the present invention to provide an archbow lock of the type employing a ligature wire and wherein the arch bowis rendered freely slidable. his a further object of the presentinvention to provide an arch bow lock wherein a securing ligature wiremay be tightened to any degree without affecting the free slidability ofthe arch bow. Other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the description hereinafter following and thedrawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the arch bow lock accordingto this invention including a portion of the tooth band and the archbow, and

Figure 2 is a partly sectional and partly elevational side view alonglines 22 of Figure 1.

The present invention relates to an improved orthodontic lock of thetype comprising a ligature wire for retaining an arch bow within thelock, and particularly to the improvement whereby the arch bow isrendered substantially freely slidable within the lock.

The drawings illustrate an orthodontic lock according to the presentinvention as secured, for example, by welding, etc., to a tooth band 1of known construction and of which only a part is shown. The lockcomponents may consist of stainless steel or a precious metal on analloy thereof and comprise a lock base plate 2 to which is welded orsoldered a pair of spaced tubes 3 and 4 of rectangular shape, asillustrated, or of cylindrical shape, or other shapes which generallycomprise a tubular form open at both ends, and the tubes being in spacedparallel arrangement with respect to each other forming a channel orgroove therebetween for the positioning of an arch bow 5 therein. Whilethe arch bow illustrated consists of a pair of round wires 6 and 7, theuse of a single wire arch bow of rectangular cross-section or of othercross-sectional shape is contemplated.

Specifically, the invention comprises the improvement wherein at leastone end of each tube and preferably both ends of the tubes 2 and 3 arepartially cut-away forming terminal seats 8, 9, 10 and 11 with the saidseats recessed from the top of the tubes.

Having provided the basic lock assembly by welding or otherwise securingthe plate 2 with the pair of tubes thereon to the tooth band 1, an archhow 5 is positioned in the channel 12 between the tubes 3 and 4. Inorder to retain the arch bow in said position, the free ends of a pieceof ligature wire 13 and each directed through one of the tubes 3 and 4and the free ends having passed through the tubes are subsequentlytwisted together. In the tightening of the ligature wire by twisting,the ligature wire automatically positions itself on the seats generallydesignated as seats 7, 9, 10 and 11, and the seats prevent the ligaturefrom pressing against the arch bow beyond the said seats, which rendersthe arch bow secured but slidably movable in the locks, especially whenthe said seats are of a height from the plate 2 in excess of thediameter of the ligature wire. On the other hand, by pro viding theseats with a particular height from the base plate 2, a controlledamount of friction if desired, may be applied to the arch wire.

While the seats 8, 9, 10 and 11 are generally designated as cut-awayseats, it is within the scope of the invention to include a notch orslot member as the seat in accordance with the equivalency of functionthereof as I the means whereby a ligature wire is seated with respect toa tube through which it passes so as to preclude excessive pressureagainst the arch bow wire.

What I claim is.

1. An orthodontic lock comprising a tooth band member having a pair ofsubstantially parallel tubular members secured thereto, said tubularmembers being in spaced lateral alignment with respect to each other andpositioned longitudinally of said band, recessed seat means on the upperportion of at least one end of each of said tubular members.

2. An orthodontic lock comprising a tooth band member having a pair ofsubstantially parallel tubular members secured thereto, said tubularmembers being in spaced lateral alignment with respect to each other andpositioned lengthwise of said tooth band, a recessed seat meanscomprising a partially cut-away end of the upper portion of each tubularmember, and a ligature wire passing through said tubes and positioned insaid seat means.

3. An orthodontic lock according to claim 1, wherein said seat membersare partially cut-away ends of said tubular members and positioned on anupper portion of the ends of said tubular members.

4. An orthodontic lock according to claim 2, comprising a plate memberpositioned between the said tubes and said tooth band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,257,069 Peak Sept, 23, 1941

